More Gardaí sought in rural areas

THE setting up of a specialised Garda Rural Crime Task Force – similar to one introduced in different parts of the UK over recent years – has been called for by the IFA to help tackle the issues of thefts from farms and house break-ins.

IFA Deputy President, Richard Kennedy, last week told the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, that such a task force had been very successfuly introduced in the UK over the past three years.

He said that many farmers – and especially those living alone in more isolated areas – were living in fear of their safety because of travelling gangs who were targeting livestock and machinery as well as cash and valuables.

“Over the last year, several serious incidents have occurred on farms. Many farmers and rural dwellers live in real fear for their safety, which is compounded by geographic and service isolation,” said Richard Kennedy.

In 2016, the North Yorkshire Police set up a specialised rural taskforce targeting a range of crimes including poaching, fly-tipping, equine thefts, plant and machinery robberies as well as visiting thousands of farms to advise on crime prevention tactics.

According to Richard Kennedy, a similar type strategy would work well in Ireland as already there was a high level of co-operation between the IFA and farmers with the Garda Síochána on such initiatives as Crimestoppers, Community Text Alerts and Theftstop.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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